Craft/Laundry Room Re-Do Sneak Peek

I worked hard this weekend trying to get the finishing touches done. There are still a few things left do do before I post it all. So far, I have been pretty dang proud of my manliness when it comes to this re-do. Mr. Lucas works practically 7 days a week and on top of that is in school. Since he has been so busy I decided to take matters into my own hands. Fortunately, for me....and him too...he will be done in just a few weeks! Then, I can have him work on all kinds of projects around the house...including digging another garden. I know he is soooooooooooo looking forward to that. But, anyhoo, I have become rather friendly with the power drill and hammer. These things are awesome, especially the drill! A few weeks ago I hung new mini blinds all by my lonesome. I did pretty good if I do say so myself. Then, today, I hung shelves! Yes people...I did it. It took about 4 hours and I can't figure out why because it was fairly easy. Maybe I got distracted or something. But, once I figured out what the heck I was doing...it went pretty smoothly.

I had to make sure things were level and penciled holes on the wall where the anchors were to go and got to drilling.

Then, I whacked the anchor in with the hammer. This was the hardest part at first. Once I realized the drill bit I was using wasn't big enough...and then a phone call to Mr. Lucas to learn how to put the larger drill bit in the drill...I was in business.

I drilled the thingy into the wall that holds the shelving and ta-DA!  Notice the holes to the side...well, that was when I first started and got frustrated. I was actually drilling into the stud. That didn't work so well. I remember that the hubby had a stud finder and I put that to use. I like the stud finder ;) I spackled up the holes and painted over, you would never know.  

Here is a peek at the smaller shelves I installed. You will get a better picture when I post the reveal. 

Cheers! 

More Re-Decorating

I have taken a little break from my sewing class and other projects to finally finish decorating my house. I have been painting my craft/laundry room. Part of the project was to install new mini blinds and hang curtains. My mom gave me some natural colored cotton curtains that she was not longer using. I just re-vamped them to what I needed and used Rit Dye in Pearl Grey. In order to find said dye I had to call all over the dang metroplex. Apparently someone else needed pearl grey too...and they needed all of it! Every place I called said that someone else called and bought all of it. But, I was told that a new shipment would be coming in on Friday. So, I got on the phone on Friday and called all around again and found 2 Hobby Lobby locations and each had 3 boxes. I did not need a total of 6 boxes since I only needed to dye 4 curtain panels but I felt a little vengeful and bought them all anyway. Take that! So, here is a little sneak peek into what I have been up to. 

Using the washing machine to dye the curtain panels was so easy and the color was completely even. I am very happy with the end result. I have a few more things left to do in order to complete this project but when it is complete I will be sure to post! 

Cheers! 

Bedroom Makeover

I know I have been MIA lately from blogging. There has been a lot going on with my family so I kinda lost my creative gusto for a bit. But, I feel the creative bug has bit me again, especially since it is time to start crafting for Christmas! 

I have been thinking about about the fall and winter months because it has been so unbearably hot here! It has been so hot that my spoiled animals that normally relax on the bed or couch have been laying on the hardwood floor because it is cooler there. I may need to do that myself come to think of it. It has been so hot that my wonderful cucumber vine was only able to produce 4 cucumbers before the rest of them shriveled up and died. So did my pumpkin vine that was growing so well. I guess that is what happens when you have plants growing in full sun in the 110 degree temps.  Next year I will start growing a bit sooner and take extra precautions to keep them sheltered from this scorching heat.  It has been so hot and dry my grass is a very interesting dried up shade of orange. Something  have never experienced before. 

So, what is one to do in the heat? Redecorate! I have been working on this for several weeks but it all came to fruition this weekend after I painted the room. I love it!  Here are the before photos of my previously drab bedroom:

Yep, pretty bad, I know!

And for the after:

To start things out, we got a new mattress. Good-bye circa 1980's mattress. You served us very well but some things will always need to be upgraded and a mattress is one of them. I have been sleeping like a baby ever since!

I also made a headboard. I have been wanting to do this for a while. I think it adds a lot to the room. I don't know why I did not do thins sooner. It not in my budget right now to buy a fancy bed frame but I think this headboard will do quite nicely for a while.  I will post a tutorial on it tomorrow. It was super easy to make. 

New lamp from T.J. Maxx!

My mom painted this picture when she was in either high school or college. I love it and it goes with the colors of the room perfectly! I decided to hang it on the wall above my bedside table. I think it is perfect there.

This picture my Uncle took in Crested Butte, Colorado. I have the other 2 that go with this picture hanging in my bathroom. They are so beautiful and remind me of happy times. I had it hung somewhere else in the room before but I think it is better under this little shelf. I picked up a nice blue tea light holder at Target on clearance so I put it on top of this little shelf. It is a bit hard to see it though. 

Ah, my curtains. It it is amazing how much curtains will do to a room. I'm telling you, curtains are the bomb. What is even more bomb is that I got these curtains from the Family Dollar for 10 bucks a panel. Thank you very much. 

I put my shadow boxed back in the same place and had to display the cake topper my sister made for my wedding. I love it and it will always be a piece of art in my house.  The decorative piece of wood with "love" on it my dad made. He was a wood shop teacher before he became a bit time business man! I love that this room incorporates the artistic side of different members of my family. 

I moved these candle holders from over the bed to the dresser. I need to add a picture or decal to complete this, however, for now it will do.

Ziggy enjoys the new bed and bed linens. 

All new bed linens for my new mattress and headboard thanks to Bed Bath and Beyond.  I want to put something on the wall above the bed but I have not found that perfect thing yet. When I do I will post. 

I used Silver Drop paint from Behr. It was actually my mom's idea. She thought it would compliment the hall and living room that I painted French Gray a few months back. She was right. It looks great I think! Sorry the lighting is a little off in these pictures. I have a fancy camera that I still don't know how to use properly! :-)

Cheers!

Spray Paint Is The Bomb!

I am so silly and forgot to take a before picture. Right when I pushed my finger down and started to spray, I thought, "duh". But anyhoo, I sort of have a before picture from a previous blog entry so at least that will give you a very small idea of what the little wicker table looked like before:

And after! Have I mentioned that I love spray paint?

It turned out to be the perfect color of red. It definitely perks up the kitchen.


As for the kitchen, my project is to paint a chalkboard on the wall. Now, follow me here for a minute. I am sure you are thinking that is a very strange idea. But, I am not entirely crazy, I have seen the concept in Cottage Living and it looks really cute. You will soon see! Unfortunately, I was waylaid today when I realized that I can't put chalkboard paint on a textured wall because then when you try to write on it, it will look bumpy. So, I am going to have to sand paper the wall. Ugh. I did, however, get the frame for the chalkboard painted with the same red spray paint that I used for the table. I think I just may have this project completed by the end of this week! Stay tuned!

Cheers!

Happy Birthday To Me......

....well, 6 months later. I finally used the Home Depot gift card my parents gave me and purchased wood mini blinds for my bedroom. I LOVE they way it turned out. So, here is the before.....

I was sooooo tired of the bamboo blinds and those awful plastic mini blinds that were hanging in the room. I am swearing off awful plastic mini blinds. I have to make a deal with myself that within the next 2-3 months all the blinds in my house will be replaced! That only means 5 more awful mini blinds left to go and I will be set! You know, bamboo blinds, they are nice but just did not really work for the room and they also let alot of light in. There is a street light in the corner of my yard which can get really annoying but I am certain these new blinds will keep the light out. Here is the after!

Just the smallest change can make such a difference! I got rid of that awful chair and put an end table by the bed with my water carafe. I can't wait to curl up in bed and watch the closing ceremonies of the Olympic games!

If you wanna have some fun, you can play "Where is Cedella", she is hiding somewhere! She loves to get in all my pictures. She is Calico so she tends to be a bit camouflage. Good luck!

Cheers!